21st June will be observed as International Day of Yoga: UN

21st June will be annually observed as ‘International Day of Yoga’ after United Nations General Assembly (UN-GA) adopted an India-led resolution. UN has adopted this resolution under the agenda of ‘Global Health and Foreign Policy’.

UN recognised that Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being and its wider dissemination of information about benefits of practising Yoga will be beneficial for the health of the world population.

Resolution in this regard was introduced by India’s Ambassador to the United Nations Asoke Mukerji and 175 nations as co-sponsors for it. It was the highest number ever for any resolution in the 193-member UN Genral Assembly

Passing of this resolution also made history as it was for the first time that such an initiative has been proposed and implemented by any country in the UN body in less than 90 days.

Background

Earlier in September 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed this idea during his speech at UN-GA. He had suggested 21st June because it represents one of the two solstices, is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.

Significance

The main significance of the UN declaring an International Day is to focus the attention of the international community on the topic and to encourage activities among the member states to commemorate the day.

Till date, UN in its annual calendar has listed nearly 118 international days, years and anniversaries for observance.